TRAVEL TIPS

Travel
Tips for Western Men Visiting Russia or Ukraine
By Elena Petrova

Men who visit their
Russian or Ukrainian girlfriends often ask me for travel tips:
how to organize their trip, do they need a visa, what to take with,
where to stay etc.

This is why I decided
to write a short list of travel tips for visiting Russia / Ukraine.

Visas

You need a visa to
visit Russia. Citizens of the U.S.A., UK and European Union
don't need visas to visit Ukraine. Citizens of Australia and
New Zealand need visas to visit both Ukraine and Russia. If you need a
visa, search Google for Russian or Ukrainian consulate in your country
and read the information on their website, how to apply for a
visitor's visa. If you book a hotel, they can send you an
"invitation" required for the visa as well (ask before
booking if they offer visa support).

The easiest way
to get a visa is to use a
website such as VisaToRussia.com
(they not only assist with visas to Russia but also to Ukraine,
Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan).

Your
girlfriend can also send you a "private invitation" but it's
a lot of hassle for both her and you, so most people don't bother and
simply get a "tourist" visa rather than a "private
visitor" visa.

Electrical converter

You will need an
electrical converter for your laptop and electrical items. Electricity throughout Russia is 220 volt. The plug is 2 pin thin European standard.
Ask in your local travel shop for a converter; most tourist-oriented
shops will have them in stock.

Weather

Russian winter is
November to March with temperatures routinely reaching -20C / -4F (the
average winter temperature -8C / 17F). You will definitely need a warm
winter jacket, winter boots, gloves, scarf and hat and enough
clothes for layering (t-shirt, shirt, jumper and winter jacket go on
top of each other). Even in summer (June-August) temperatures often
can be as low as +5C / 41F although sometimes it can be very hot, up
to +35C / 95F (the average summer temperature is about +18C / 64F).
Check the average temperatures for the place you are visiting (Russia
spreads through 11 time zones, so temperatures vary greatly between
in-land and coastal regions, South and North) and the weather
forecast. If you are taking an umbrella, you'll need to put it in your
check-in luggage due to safety regulations.

Clothes

You will
need a warm jacket for cooler days (even in summer), a couple of pairs
of jeans, a jumper and 3-4 shirts in "smart casual" style.
You may want to add 3-4 cool T-shirts and 1-2 pairs of longer-style
shorts in summer. You don't need to have a new shirt for every day of
the trip: shirts can be re-worn or washed (you may want to have enough
underwear for every day of the trip though). You will need a pair of
comfortable walking shoes (you will walk a lot) and another pair for
dinner dates/outings. For visiting your lady, it's better to be
overdressed than under-dressed. (A friend of mine alwyas says,
"You can go to a football game in a tuxedo, but you can't go to a
black-tie event in shorts and trainers".) Take a formal shirt,
suit and tie, just in case - your Russian sweetheart may want to take
you out to theatre or ballet. For "meeting the parents" I
would definitely recommend a suit and tie: once again, it's better to
be overdressed than under-dressed.

Luggage

Before your trip, check
the limit on checked luggage with your airline. If you travel by local
Russian airlines inside Russia, make sure your check-in luggage doesn't exceed
20kg or you may pay up to $20/kg for any weight over the limit (local
Russian airlines are very strict about it; they will make you pay even
if you are only 1-2 kg over). On international routes, payment for
over the limit luggage can be as much as $45/kg - so, pack
accordingly. Leave some space for any souvenirs you may want to bring
home. Check how much the suitcase weighs - some suitcases weigh up
to 6-7kg; you may be better off buying a light-weight sport bag or a
new suitcase than paying for overweight luggage. Weigh your bag after
it's been packed - it should not exceed 13-17 kg if you want to have a
comfortable trip. Take only travel-sized toiletries with you; shampoo,
laundry powder or anything else you may need during your trip can be
purchased locally.

Water

Tap water in Russia is supposed
to be boiled before consumption, so use bottled water to brush your
teeth and for drinking. Showering is OK.

Money

You will be able to
draw cash from your ATM card in Russia. US Dollars and Euro are easy
to exchange in Russia/Ukraine to Rubles/Grivnas; other currencies will
be harder to exchange and the commission is higher; so, buy some US
Dollars at home to get a more favorable exchange rate in Russia. Take a few hundred dollars
cash with you and remember to replenish your supply as needed; not
many places take credit cards.
Exchange money to the local currently only at the bank or in your
hotel. Keep most of your cash, your ATM card and your passport in a
pocket or wallet under your shirt at all times (hanging
around your neck), and only a small amount of cash in front pockets of
your pants. Do not show large amounts of cash where someone around can
see that; there are pick pocketers in large cities in Russia and
especially around the tourist hot spots. This is also the reason why
it's better to keep cash in pockets than in a wallet. Travel checks
are hard to exchange to cash in Russia; not many places do it.

Food

Some Russian
restaurants have a menu in English but most of them don't. The easiest
way to buy food is in fast-food cafes which can be found in most large
shopping centres, as you can simply point to the food you want. You
can also ask your girlfriend or hotel administrator to write down the
names of the dishes you like in Russian and ask in a restaurant if
they have them on the menu.

Visiting a Russian
home

When entering a Russian
home, you should remove your shoes: Russians don't wear street shoes
at home. You will be usually offered
a pair of slippers, or you can remain in your socks (so, make sure
there are no holes!)

You will be usually
offered food and drinks when visiting a private home. There may be many
dishes served and you are supposed to try all of them. Try not to
leave anything on the plate as you may offend the hosts, so take only
a small helping to try first. Even if you do not drink alchohol, take
a small sip from your glass. You may be asked to finish your drink, if
you don't want to do it, you can say you are on medication that
doesn't allow you to drink.

Presents/Gifts

When visiting someone,
bring a small present for the hostess: a small bunch of flowers, a box
of chocolates and/or a bottle of wine. If there are kids at the house,
bring sweets of chocolates for the kids. It's considered rude for a
visitor to come empty-handed.

It goes without saying
that you need to bring some presents for your Russian girlfriend and
her family; if you don't bring presents, you will be considered stingy
and ill-mannered. Perfumes are great and economical gifts for adults (both
genders); sweets and soft toys for younger kids; electronic gadgets
for teens (or again, perfumes); strong alchohol (wisky, gin etc) for men; silk scarves and jewelry for women.
For your sweetheart, an inexpensive gold chain and pendant or a
stylish bracelet will be always welcome, as well as a set of perfumes
(several small-sized perfumes in a gift box) or a cosmetic set. You can buy
them at a duty free shop at the airport or on the plane, so you don't
even have to worry about gifts when packing at home. I find it quite
relaxing to shop on the plane; there is no rush and the items they
have in stock are usually their best-sellers and reasonably priced.
The duty-free shopping magazine will be in the pocket in front of your
chair.

Smiling

It's not appropriate in
the Russian culture to smile at strangers; smiles are reserved for
friends and acquiantances only. People in the streets usually have
somber expressions and may be uncomfortable if you smile at them (they
may even think you are laughing at them). Foreigners in Russia are
easily recognized by their all-time smiley facial expression. If you
want to blend in, try to mimic the facial expression of people around
you.

Transport

Most Russians use
public transport: subway, buses, trolleybuses and trams. Traffic in
Russia and Ukraine is right-sided (same as in the U.S.A.). Foreigners
usually use taxis. Have your hotel administrator to write down the
name of the place you are going to in Russian, so that you can show it
to the taxi driver. Have your hotel card with you always.

Hotels

You can book a hotel in
virtually any Russian or Ukrainian city online, often with huge
discounts. Check the prices online and also ask your girlfriend to
recommend a few good hotels close to her place. It's better to stay in
a hotel for your first visit, so that you don't have to rely on your
Russian girlfriend for everything and have the service that is close
to what you are used to at home. Most hotels have good security and
English-speaking personnel.

Speaking English

When speaking English
in Russia, speak very slowly and use only very simple expressions and
words, pronounce all words clearly. Even Russians who speak English
struggle to understand different accents and you need to speak in a
very simple language, like you would speak to a small child.

Electronic
translator

Buy an electronic
translator that has Russian language. It will be of great help. You
can find Russian electronic translators online.

Want more travel
tips?

We asked Russian women
who are dating western men to give us some tips, here is what they
said (based on their experience of meeting men in Russia / Ukraine):

Nothing is more
irritating for a woman, when a guy plans meetings with several girls during one trip (ESPECIALLY behind
her back): every woman wants to feel it's an exclusive relationship.

Talk on Skype before your visit: it will help
you to understand her level of fluency in English and whether you
can communicate.

Don't think that just because you are an American (or Australian, or
German etc) she will jump on the opportunity to be with you; show more substance. Even if you think her country is inferior to yours, treat her with the same respect as you would want your sister or daughter be treated by a man who dates her.
Respectful attitude goes a long way with Eastern European ladies.

Don't try to get sex
on the day one. Establish a close relationship first, and demonstrate you are serious about her. Don' think that just because you spent money to visit her, she owes you something. Sex is a gift a woman is happy to give freely to
the man she trusts and feels safe with, and that her heart will be
safe, too. It takes some time for a woman to feel this comfortable with a man.

Women feel uncomfortable with
men who ask to stay at her place during the visit. If you want this relationship to work, give it the best chance by booking a hotel for yourself
- even if the woman invites you to stay with her. This will take a
lot of strain from this developing relationship.

If you use
"Sprint" mobile carrier, it may not work in Russia and Ukraine. Find out before your visit how to make it work in the country you
are visiting, or buy a local SIM card on arrival.

Arrange for someone to meet you at the airport on your arrival, whether your girlfriend or ask the hotel to send a car to fetch you. It will be cheaper than getting a taxi at the airport.
Give the person who meets you the date and time of arrival, the name of the airline and
the flight number.

Exchange $200-300 to Rubles/Grivnas on your arrival to the airport (or at home), so that you have some cash in the local currency.

Exchange rate at official banks may be more favourable than at the airport or hotel; you won't save much but you can get a few extra Rubles. (If you are only visiting for a few days, may not be worth the hassle.)

Don't drink with strangers - your drink can be spiked when you are not looking (this is also applicable when you are at home in a pub!)

Your lady will appreciate some flowers and chocolates; it's a token of your attention to her and a normal courting ritual in Russia/Ukraine.
(Women specifically mentioned that bringing a gift when visiting
is a custom that many westerners get wrong and lose points.)

Be a "Real Man": show some initiative. Even though you are in her country, be proactive and arrange some activities that you both can enjoy (your hotel will have a list of advertising booklets in English or simply ask the hotel administrator what she can recommend). This will show her you can take care of yourself and of her; don't let her be your babysitter!

You should be ready to tell the woman by the end of your
visit (or a few days after) what is your plan regarding this relationship:
" let's meet again in a few months", " I'd like to invite you to visit me",
or "you are the woman of my life - let's get married!" - or if you decided it's not going to work, tell her as it is. No one wants to waste time and emotional effort; you either move forward or cut it off.

And the last but not
the least: BE YOURSELF! Nothing turns a woman off more than
a man who tries to pretend to be someone he is not. If you are
respectful, polite and REAL, you will score much more than trying
to pose and brag.

Why
Russian Women Want
to Leave Russia
- THE REAL ANSWER. I hear this question all the time, "Why
Russian
women want to leave Russia?"
Another popular question is, "Why
Russian women want to marry American men?" (Or "Why Russian women want
to marry Australian men", or "Why Russian women want to marry English
men" etc, etc). The answer is very simple...